"The relationship with Nanjing started more than 2 years ago during the Youth Olympic Games and being here today is a clear and tangible sign of the legacy of the IOC and its President Thomas Bach." said Sabatino Aracu, FIRS President, during the Roller Museum Opening Ceremony, at the presence of Mr Ching-Kuo WU, IOC EB Member.
Starting from the SportsLab of 2014, a strong legacy has been built between FIRS and the City of Nanjing, drawing the path to the Capital of Roller Sports: The International Ambassadors Seminary hold on November 2015, the 2016 World Speed Skating Championships, officially opened today in the afternoon, and the first edition of the Roller Games in 2017.
The Roller Museum, in an area of the Nanjing Olympic Museum, tells to the world the story of this legacy: young sports for a young City. "I am very proud of this museum and I would like to thank the City of Nanjing for the hard word they put into this project realized in a very short period of time and the Expo Round that produced and realized the pavilion" concluded Mr ARACU. The roller disciplines have been split into three areas: Indoor, Urban and Mountain. Videos and pictures introduce the audience to the world of the roller sports whilst memorabilia from the past show more than 90 years of skating passion. In the last section, you can experience the skating world thanks to VRM, Games and a mini-ramp that will mix the feelings of the past and the technologies of the future.
Tomorrow, FIRS delegation, judges, athletes and coaches will move to the competition field for the 2016 Speed Skating World Championships, officially launched today with the Preparatory Meeting and the Opening Ceremony.
Nanjiing greeted the delegation from 43 Countries with a loving and colorful show: "People with different cultures and skin colors from all over the world will meet in Nanjing, the "World Capital of Roller Sports"; This is a pure pleasure of people sharing the joy of roller skating; This is a dialogue across time and space that connects Nanjing with the world and makes roller skating a sports symbol popular in all the five continents".
Day 1 Schedule
09.00 Junior Men and Women 300 meters Time Trial Series
Senior Men and Women 300 meters Time Trial Series
Junior Men and Women 10.000 meters Points/Elimination Series
Senior Men and Women 15.000 meters Elimination Series
17.00 Junior Men and Women 300 meters Time Trial Final
Senior Men and Women 300 meters Time Trial Final
Junior Men and Women 10.000 meters Points/Elimination Final
Senior Men and Women 15.000 metros Eliminación Final
The afternoon finals will be Live on FIRStv http://firs.rollersports.tv/
Photo Credits: Luis Ramirez
